As I went back to Foodville all drenched wet, a horrible awkwardness rose up my throat. Jie Moshu and I were sitting side by side—both of us dressed in dried clothes, and towels turban around our heads. Baba was in front of us, looking all grumpy. My stomach flipped apprehensively at the wall clock. I had lost my instincts, frozen from head to toe. As for eye contact... Urm... I had no idea which level of appropriate eye contact could be used at the moment.
How were you supposed to talk when there was nothing but deathly silence for a few hours, anyway? As time went by, so slowly, the ticktock echoed louder.
When Baba saw me came back in such a sloppy way, he gazed at me, breathing hard. Xiaofei and Cangyu deliberately took their leave with Axiang schlepped away—scurried around to hide. Of course I knew the exact reason. The unbearable tension that kept on rising in the room.
And I, as the person involved, was left in a room that contained two hazardous-looking guys. Even without looking, I could feel an electric circuit buzzed behind their bland mask, fighting both externally and internally. For saving irrelevant customers getting pulled at my disposal, I turned the "yes, we're open" sign into "sorry, we're closed". I heaved a long, shuddering sigh as it hit me that money wouldn't be flowing in today. This month payment for salary and rent would be a little trouble.
A foot away, Huashe was leaning against the wall. I mean, it didn't catch on to me why would he bother to put on a sappy display in this situation. Was he dedicated so much into the "familiar" job—guarding his master—already? I supposed so—but a larger part of me felt like he was enjoying a show.
On the other hand, Baba had been digesting all of his frustrations and shocks inside like forever. I gulped. His fingers were clicking on the table, my head couldn't stop thinking it was like waiting him to reach a verdict.
I ventured and risked a little smile, "Baba, I..."
He put his finger against his lips, warning me not to say a word. His gestures were instantly recognizable, as was his expression. It was his 'don't interrupt me, I'm the fierce daddy' expression. Honestly. I mean, it was a yes-way kind of embarrassing. (No offense Baba, but he really looked like pouting rather than angry).
"Okay..." I said feebly—it even sounded so tiny like a soft whisper and scared my own ears.
My face was burning in mortification. My eyeballs rolled at Jie Moshu and Baba, back and forth. They were like the opposite of each other—Baba was like a volcano that ready to erupt at any minute, and Jie Moshu was as icy as the Everest Mountain. Which left me, the middleman.
The middleman caught up in preamble before a war might break out. 'May-day' alert was getting louder and louder inside my head.
"Huayu."
"Yes, Baba," I amended hurriedly. My heart began to thump when he called my name.
"We can talk things over, can't we?" His brows furrowed as he crossed his arms. "You know Baba isn't the type of parent who would interfere in my daughter's love affair. I only wanted to know the reason behind your choice, and that's why Mr. Jie and I were talking."
I nodded intently. Yes, I fully understood your action.
"If you didn't tell me anything, then how I could know him?"
I nodded again. Very true, indeed.
"Well, if you know Baba's intention..." he cleared his throat, "why do you have to take things the hard way? You didn't need to go to the extent of sacrificing your life for love. Did you even remember that Baba is still here? Don't you love Baba anymore?"
I nodded... Eh? I jerked up in shock.
Baba was so gobsmacked by my unintentional reaction. Meanwhile, I was a bit shamefaced that I shook my head vociferously.
He quelled a sigh as he rubbed his forehead. "That is why people always said, when your daughter has grown up, they can't stay at home again. My baby daughter finally had her own place to go now."
"Baba, you that's not what I meant!" I banged the table and I bristled instantly.
What did it have to do with I was grown-up now? And why did he emphasize so much on marrying me off to Jie Moshu? Just what on earth did he say—or brainwash—to Baba while I was away? At least, care to give me a moment to explain!
Instead, Baba banged back at me in simultaneous horror exclamation, "Then why you almost killed yourself? We can talk about this!"
Instinctively, Baba's an octave higher pitch made me shrink back to my seat like a feline.
"I wasn't trying to suicide..." I defended despairingly. My eyes darted a glance at Huashe, and a thought hit me. "This famili—I mean, this friend here can prove it, right Huashe?"
Huashe lips quirked into a smile. Be positive, Huayu. My eyes were gleaming with hopes. I supposed he was going to help me, fingers crossed. After all I was now his newly appointed master—as threatened by Jie Moshu.
"I sure saw everything," Huashe grinned—was that an evil grin I saw? Uh-oh. I felt a dart of danger. There was the teasing note in his voice. "She seemingly attempted to do so."
Heavens. If he wasn't intended to help me, then said nothing. Nada. Zip. Did he really have to squeeze lemon juice right into this miserable mess?
In my head, Huashe seemed to be mocking me with his hiss, as he sardonically added through our telepathy, 'It was a suicide alright. You meddled in the middle of my battle with the eight-legged, so considering yourself not-so-helpful human, it's a s'sssuicide.'
'Huashe! You cunning bratty snake!' I found myself cursing him on my own head. Like an old saying: never should have expected a help from a snake!
I felt a fresh anguish. I couldn't bear the incredulous look on Baba's face. My mind screamed to find another defense. Anything. Quick. "Axiang! Axiang can prove it, I asked him to—"
Baba cut me off sharply before I finished. "If you didn't remind me about the kid, I'd almost forgotten about it. You even dare to pull a child into this? You're an adult, did you even know you left a child running back here alone, seeking for rescue? Did you even know what kind of impact will you bring to a child seeing you going to the middle of the sea?! Didn't you know that we're all worried sick about you? What if Mr. Jie didn't make it on time? Have you ever thought about that?!"
My heart plummeted. Why did I even drag Axiang into this? I opened my mouth automatically wanted to respond—but all of a sudden I lost track of my own thoughts. I did go to the sea intended to rescue Huashe, before it backfired me that I was a notorious damsel in distress. Okay, I was an exceedingly nosy moron.
As Baba tapered off into silence, I didn't even dare to breath.
He blew his nose noisily, "Just let me asked you one thing. Did you not go to the sea?"
What did Baba expect me to say? He had already made up his mind. Besides, it was awful to hear him so upset. Of course, it was. Ghastly. His accusations struck me to the point I was almost speechless. Suiciding was the last thing that could ever pop on my mind. And he could even think that I was playing the scenario of oh-so-romeo-and-juliet... There was only silence.
Baba, there's something I need to tell you. I'm not dating this guy. So, why would I go to the extent to kill myself for him? Even if I'm really in love with a person, that's a really dumb thing to do.
But the words didn't make it out of my mouth.
Suddenly, Jie Moshu placed his warm hand on mine—firmly clasped. Another gush of shock washed over me. I let my gaze wandered to him. His composure didn't even flicker. We were only holding hands. Temporarily. I couldn't tell whether it was to give me support or a practical necessary movement to convince Baba.
It was pressure. All hideous pressure. Why did I even agree to accept Jie Moshu's proposal in the first place? Why didn't I just say the truth back when everyone was suspicious? Let alone agreed him to live with me under the same roof. Let alone lied he was my "fiancé".
Baba regarded Jie Moshu with wide, unpleasant eyes, especially for us holding hands. His nanosecond expression literally uttered 'get your hands off my daughter's', and Jie Moshu must surely have noticed that. Instead, a gentle smile was spread over his appealing face—it was extremely dazzling.
I fought an instinct of his reconfirmed handsomeness deeply in my heart. (Just how could I think of that in a situation like this).
"Father in-law, you were obliged for pointing out Huayu's hasty action and that what she'd done didn't solve anything," he said in his understated tone. "But we all can understand her intention."
"So...?" Baba purposely left the question dangling. Somehow I got a terrible feeling about this.
"Action speaks louder than words, so as I'll do as what Huayu's will—I'm here to take full responsibility for her not to do such immature things again. I'll be marrying her."
I peered at him in confusion as though he was joking.
But the solemn in Jie Moshu's face, the certainty in his words... I felt a clench of alarm. On the other side, Baba woolly eyebrows knitted together, as he nodded as he rubbed his nose. My chest was bursting with adrenaline. This movement, this plot, I think I knew where we were heading... No, no, no, no! It couldn't be!
"You have my permission, boy," Baba's voice snapped me out of my trance. It was like a bludgeon to the stomach and I almost choked.
That was it. The enormity truth hit me. It was all gone. Things had gone horribly wrong, and I didn't get any chance to conclude my innocent. It was all gone—farewell to my single life.